Women taking on industries that are populated by men.
For a couple of years now, women are taking on industries that are populated and dominated by men and the women seem to do the work so well. The women are proving that they too can do jobs that are viewed as “male jobs”. Some have even become leaders in these industries, they don’t only hold entry-level jobs but they are becoming CEOs, mentors in these industries.
Women are gaining skills and education needed to get into the specialized careers, and also, they are gaining those skills at a greater rate than men. Records show that women are more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree by 30 than men. Women have stepped up to the plate by securing their future through studying and taking on more career opportunities.
These records are coming at a time when women make up the majority of the U.S. workforce and have outnumbered men for the first time since 2010. Part of this has to do with the type of jobs they are taking and how these industries fared in the past. Women are taking on industries such as oil and gas industries. And 2020 has been a very strong year for female-dominated industries such as health care and education.
Women are finally taking on the previously male-dominated fields, and this stands to improve if women can have access to mentorship, limited bias, and receiving sponsorships. Women who have been successful in male-dominated industries can also support and inspire them to consider taking on these jobs as well. When more women join the field and success, it can have a positive and lasting impact on what kind of worker is motivated and welcomed to join certain professions. These industries are making a concerted effort to attract more women into their workforces, but the question is, are they going far enough? They can go far with good mentorship.
Women considering Apprenticeships
When you’re a woman that’s about to enter a sector stereotypically male-dominated, you need apprenticeships as they are a great way to get your foot in the door- you’re learning while receiving a wage. You may be thrown in a deep end in order to learn what these industries bring. It is 100% the best way to learn. Some female apprentices’ success is more dependent on their response and mindset rather than external influences.
Some companies in South Africa are hiring women and making them handle top positions in order to increase their BEE “Black Economic Empowerment” points, the more your company is seen to support and give opportunities to women, black women of color, in particular, the company is considered for government work and projects.
Below are some of the male-dominated industries and occupations that women are taking on
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Mining, Quarrying, Oil and Gas Extraction
- Transportation
- Warehousing
- Utilities
- Civil Engineers
- Military and Police Force
- Computer Programmers
10.Finance
11.Technology
12.Mechanical Engineers and etc.
Women in fields that are male-dominated such as engineering and finance face difficulties. If they are found to succeed in these fields, their colleagues, males and also females, may see them as people who don’t fit in and difficult to work with because they seem dominant like men since they can take on male-dominated jobs. When women succeed in industries they populate in, they don’t go through unfair treatment. It’s okay when they are excelling in those industries.
It may be overt discrimination or subtler forms of bias, but male-dominated sectors like finance and engineering can create challenges for women. Research shows that even well-meaning mentors set female engineers into less valued roles. It comes as no surprise that many women end up leaving the sector.
In a study, researchers found that women succeeding in a stereotypically male career-working in the financial planning division of a human resources office — were viewed as unpleasant. The effect was not seen in those women that are excelling in the employee-assistance positions, in the divisions considered nurturing and appropriate for women. These findings show that males and females in the workplace penalize women for success, limiting women’s progress in traditionally male fields. However, these findings may differ in the future.
How can women take actions that set them up to succeed in any work environment?
Don’t let stereotypes and unconscious biases get to you. When women take leadership roles, their conduct may be perceived in a negative way. Their assertiveness may be perceived as “bossiness”, and when they show passion and empathy it may be perceived as being “worked up.” You need to look past these comments and still lead with confidence.
Find your network. Find a network of women who support your goals. in this way you will be able to teach each other and motivate one another.
Set the stage. Set meetings or organize situations that may involve everyone in the team to make everyone be part of what’s being planned and not be an inconvenience for them.
Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure shouldn’t be taken negatively, rather as a way to learn, grow, and ouch boundaries that ultimately lead to success. Take a chance even if you might fail. Try again and again to be better, smarter, and faster.
Take ownership of your accomplishments. When you’ve accomplished something in your company, share it with the team. This may motivate the staff into seeing that having you as a leader is not so bad after all.
Move on if there’s no support. If you’ve worked in the company and you are not receiving the support that you need, then it may be time to move on and seek other opportunities elsewhere.
Show teamwork. Other workers may see you as someone who likes accomplishing things alone. Show that you appreciate them and involve them also on projects that may be meant for managers only. This is to show that want them to learn and grow.
Ways to excel in a Male-Dominated Workplace
1. Create Bonding Session Over Drinks
The best career opportunities often come out of interactions outside the office or at social gatherings, often over a beer. When these socials are planned, don’t exclude yourself especially if you want to get closer to the team and possibly get opportunities.
2. Don’t Be Easily Offended
Guys have a thing at work called the Circle of Trust. You gain entry when they know they can be themselves around you, without being reported to HR. you can hear the most shocking and disgusting stories there are to tell — but stay cool. And as a result, you became part of the group and included in the nights of handing out grabbing something to eat and or going out for beers.
3. Don’t Be Anyone’s Puppet
Have you seen plenty of men in the workplace picking up their boss’s lunch or coffee? If you’re not someone’s assistant, do not get in the habit of acting like one. There are special exceptions when your boss is in fire drill mode or decides to treat a group for getting his coffee — but don’t make it a regular thing. And if your male peers aren’t being a part of that they don’t chip in it as well, this may seem like you’re a puppet as you’d be doing it alone and the rest watching you.
4. Don’t Be the “Yes” Woman
In the industries, there’s tremendous pressure to work hard and keep the overflowing results. Lunch and coffee run aside, it’s all too easy to say yes to every project as you strive to “be a good employee”, but if you never say no, you’ll ultimately just hurt both yourself and your company. It’s important to stand up for the projects you really want to work on, and then push back at other times when you don’t have the capacity. Not everybody says yes to every project they are given, especially if it will affect the current projects they are working on
5. Embrace Your Strengths
When you’re the only woman on the team, your boss may ask you for insight into the group. The boss may ask you about how are the other interns or team members feeling since you’re the woman and you know better about people’s feelings more than men do. which is true, since that’s your strength then embrace the strength. But you know what? This may start a mutually beneficial relationship. Whether it’s listening, emotional aptitude, empathy, socializing, or just being the den mother — if you have these strengths, play to them. They’re good qualities to demonstrate as a rising future leader, and, particularly in a workplace where those skills are in short supply, they’re also not a bad way to get noticed.
6. Get a Sponsor
A sponsor is a mentor who will promote you within your company or industry, who has your back, and who will tell the rest of the company including the senior leaders how great you are and how much you deserve recognition (and promotions). And like it or not, it can be nearly impossible to advance as a woman in a male-dominated workplace without a sponsor. Start building relationships with your boss and other senior leaders from the beginning, and pay particular attention to cultivate those relationships with the individuals who believe in you and publicly support you — they are going to be your best advocates.
In conclusion, we need to look into the future by changing the present, change some wrong perceptions about women. And also start supporting them in any industry they may be in.
Women also need to support each other. Women need to start owning their power, voice, and confidence and knowing that others will also start following the lead.